When it comes to the Playoffs of the NFL, everything is magnified. The turnovers, for example, are often the difference between the teams that stay alive and the ones that go home.
In last season’s playoffs, for example, the cincinnati bengals they led with 8 interceptions, and los angeles rams tied for second place with 4. In the super bowlthe Rams defeated the amazing Bengals, in a much closer game than many anticipated.
But, apart from the importance of the turnoversthere is another extremely important element in this mini season at the beginning of the year: experience.
And by experience I mean specifically that of the most important player on any NFL team: the quarterback.
In 2022, five quarterbacks made their Playoff debuts and joe burrowfrom Cincinnati, was the only one who did not lose in his presentation.
Derek Carr (Raiders), Kyler Murray (Cardinals), mac jones (Patriots) and Jalen Hurts (Eagles) went home early in the game. Not only that, their teams were outscored by a combined score of 112-43.
Quarterbacks making their playoff debut against a quarterback with postseason experience have a 14-35-1 record against the spreadaccording to compelling data from Yahoo! Sports.
Keep that in mind, because in the playoffs, sooner or later you’re going to need your quarterback to make one or two plays that are probably going to decide the game.
With that in mind, let’s get to the picks:
GAME OF THE WEEK
Dallas (-2.5) at Tampa Bay
To Tom Brady and the Buccaneers the Playoffs mean a fresh start, after a disappointing season in which “TB12″ salvaged several games at the last minute, sometimes at the last second, to finally win the worst Division in the NFL.
For the dallas cowboys this is the umpteenth opportunity to at least return to the NFC Championship Game, let alone the Super Bowl.
The pressure, then, is on the team Jerry Joneswho in the week said that, regardless of the result on Monday, the coach Mike McCarthy He has his position secure.
Sorry, but I don’t believe the Cowboys owner/general manager/spokesperson.
If Dallas loses for the second straight year in the first round of the playoffs, there’s no reason to think Jones will give McCarthy another chance.
So today more than ever the Cowboys coach is in the hands of his quarterback.
Y dak prescott He has had a mediocre season, with 14 interceptions since returning from a thumb injury, which he curiously suffered in Week 1 against Tampa Bay.
For Dallas, however, the key to the game is on the other side of the ball. The Cowboys defense needs to pressure and hit Brady. All night.
The problem is that the Dallas front-7 stopped being that intimidating unit that collected quarterback sacks. In the last five games of the regular season, the Cowboys have recorded just six sacks, including three against Washington in Week 18. In the games against Houston and Philadelphia, they went scoreless.
Brady was only sacked 22 times, though he was hit 55 times, nearly double the hits (31) he took in 2021, largely due to the reconfiguration of the Bucs’ offensive line.
Yes michael parsons (13.5 sacks on the season), Dorance Armstrong (8.5) and company do not come close, Brady will challenge a perimeter in which only Trevon Diggs generates respect.
The pick: Prescott and the Cowboys may fall prey to their own pressure; there will be exchanges of the ball and short fields for Brady, who in this kind of game does not usually forgive the opponent’s mistakes. Bucs 23-17 Cowboys
IT MAY INTEREST YOU: Bills and Chiefs already host the AFC Championship Game
SURE PICK
Miami at Buffalo (-13)
Without Tua TagovailoaMiami will try to give the biggest surprise of the Super Wild Card Weekend with skylar thompson like QB1. There is no way. Bills 31-14 Dolphins
UPSET SPECIAL
*Read “Game of the Week”
TWO MINUTE DRIVE
Seattle at San Francisco (-9.5)
the veteran geno smith and the rookie brock purdy They make their playoff debut. The Niners swept Seattle in the regular season series by a combined score of 48-20. 49ers 26-13 Seahawks
Los Angeles Chargers (-2.5) at Jacksonville
Justin Herbert Y Trevor Lawrence they are two young quarterbacks who could dominate the AFC in no time. Today, Herbert has more and better weapons than Lawrence. Chargers 28-24 Jaguars
New York Giants at Minnesota (-3)
In the regular season, the Vikings defeated the Giants in a thriller 27-24, with a last-second field goal. Due to the inexperience in Playoffs of daniel jonesthis time there will be no need for so much drama. Minnesota 27-20 NYG
Baltimore at Cincinnati (-8.5)
lamar jackson (knee) is out for the sixth straight game and his days in Baltimore are probably numbered. Everything indicates that tyler huntley He’s going to be the starting quarterback in Cincinnati and with him, I honestly don’t see how they can pull off an upset against joe burrow and company. Bengals 23-14 Ravens
Last week: 12-5
Total in the season: 168-102-2
ON THE LINE OF PLAY
| Super Wild Card Weekend | Pyrrho recommends |
|---|---|
| Seattle in San Francisco | 49ers -9.5 |
| Los Angeles Chargers in Jacksonville | Chargers -2.5 |
| miami in buffalo | bills-13 |
| New York Giants at Minnesota | vikings -3 |
| Baltimore in Cincinnati | Bengals -8.5 |
| Dallas in Tampa Bay | Buccaneers +2.5 |
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Wild Cards: NFL Playoffs picks, predictions and bets